Ofsted 2013 letter - Wentworth High School

Headteacher: Mrs H L Aaron B Ed (Hons), MA, NPQH
WENTWORTH HIGH SCHOOL
T: 0161 789 4565
E: wentworth.highschool@salford.gov.uk
W: www.wentworthhighschool.org.uk
Senior leaders are taking effective action to improve the quality of teaching. They have identified
where improvements are required and are providing support for those teachers who require it.
Leaders and managers have recognised this and are taking robust action to tackle it. The quality of
teaching is improving although it is too early to assess the impact of this on current students’ progress
over time. Teachers are held to account for the quality of their teaching and the standards achieved
by students.
I have kept you informed about the English situation and the fact that the resit results – 100% pass rate
with 11 out of 14 students achieving a B could not be credited to us as we have no 6 th Form provision. If
we had been able to include them the data would have been different!
This year’s tracking data shows that rates of progress in English will, once again, be higher than the
national average.
Mathematics is an area of concern for the school. We had taken action to address this and have
virtually a whole new team in place led by an outstanding teacher.
The Headteacher, ably supported by governors, is taking effective action to deal with weak teaching.
For example in mathematics the appointments of two mathematics teachers, including a head of
department, are improving the quality of teaching in this subject.
Our current Year 11 has already achieved better results in mathematics now, in April, than at the end of
summer last year via the early entry policy introduced this year. We decided last year to focus on pupils
achieving a C + grade in maths as that is the most crucial hurdle in terms of progression to college. Our
results were the best we had ever had on that measure – 56% of students achieved this and this year
we will surpass that figure as well as ensuring that pupils make the expected rates of progress during
their time here. Again we are already 4% up on last year’s end of year results. We have the new team
in place and during inspection all lessons observed in maths delivered by our permanent colleagues
were either “outstanding” or “good”. In September two additional colleagues will join the team and we
are certain that results will improve significantly starting in August with the current Year 11.
We do face some challenges as outlined in the report; for example many of our students are not with us
for the full 5 years; some have EAL or SEN needs and we were pleased that our hard work in ensuring
that these students are fully supported was recognised.
Disabled students and those students who require extra help with their learning achieve well because
of the support they receive to help meet their needs. As a result of good care, guidance and support
and the additional help these students receive, the gap between their achievement and that of their
peers is smaller than that found nationally.
Behaviour in general was praised by the inspectors.
“The school staff manage behaviour well....Behaviour around the school...is generally calm.”
Wentworth Road | Eccles | Manchester | M30 9BP
Wentworth High School is a Vibrant, Inclusive and Proud School.